Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-11

America of the world-renownel Swedish
Nightingale, Nh lemoiselle Jenny Lind. !"
A rustic of expectation throughout
| the vast edifce was heard for few mo-
ments, and then ensued n profound ST.
lence. "What am 1 offeredl" asked
the auctiOneer.
"Twenty-f five dollars !" startled the
audience, nobody knowing that is was
bid by Dr. Brandreth's cashier. The
vast multitude held its breath for q mo-
ment, when FIFTY dollars !" was heard.
The audience could not withhold o
rousing cheer.
"Seyenty-tive dollars |"
zone hundred dollars !" followed in
quick succession, and after the lapse of
half n minute, as the auctioneer was
about to knock it down, "a hundred
and fifty dollars" from Genin's agent
electrified the listeners.
"Two hundred dolla1sl" quickly came
like clap of thunder.
1.-TWO hundred and twenty-five dol.
lars !" exclaimed q voice in q strong and
determined tone.
The three thousand ladies and gentle
men present were fairly bewildered. A
minute elapsed, when the auctioneer,
who had not had n chance to open his
mouth since the bidding commenced,
said:
"Is this the last bid, gentlemen
Bid quick or you lose it. Going, 60
ing, gone. Who is the lucky pur-
chaserf"
"John n. Genin, the hatterl" cried
stentorian voice. The multitude
seemed Thunderstorm, but in an in
slant there went up "lhree cheers for
Genin, the halter !" which were dis
stmctly heard on the mainland and re-
verherated around the world.
saw Mr.. Genin soon after the AUG
ton was over, congratulated him on his
pluck and success, and asked HIM out of
curiosity how much he would have paid
for that choice seat rather than to have
missed its purchase. He replied:
81 told my bookkeeper to bid as high
as thousand dollars, if necessary; and
then, as he knew how my bank account
stood, he might use his own discretion.
DR.. Brandeth told me the next day
that he limited his cashier to two hun
bred dollars, not dreaming that any one
else would bid half that; "but," he add
ed, 81 had better have paid five thou
sand dollars than TO have missed secur-
ing the first Jenny Lind ticket. Such
splendid chance for notoriety will never
again Offer"
Genin made fortune out Of it. His
hats were bought by nearly everybody,
and as he was careful to make a good
article, we'll worth the price paid, he
secured thousands of permanent custom
ers. Almost every man visiting New
York was sure to wear home "Genin
hat, thus causing his neighbors to envy
him till they in turn secured similar
prize.
In Dubuque, Iowa, it was told that
twenty OF thirty men we're awaiting at
the post Office the arrival of the mail
containing newspaper account of the
Jenny Lind ticket sale. One man seized
the paper aud read aloud to his anxious
friends "The first Jenny Lind tick
ct sold for two hundred and twenty
five dollars to Genin, the halter"
Every man present involuntarily took
off his hat to see if it was made by
Genin. Sure enough, one who wore an
old hat not worth fifty cents found Gen
ms name III it. He instantly became
the hero of the hour All shook hands
with him and rendered their congratu-
lations. One gentleman exclaimed:
MY dear sir, that hat is invaluable.
Preserve it carefully, and hand it down
as an heirloom"
Another man called out: "Jim, you
are lucky, but don't be mean. Give us
all chance; set up your Genin hat at
auction"
"Jim," being not overburdened with
cash, and caring more for money than
heir-looms, acceded to this proposition.
Taking the hat from his head he cried
out: "Here she goes, goes! Give us a
bid for the real Genin hat!"
The first bid was one dollar, and with
in the space of five minutes it was
knocked down for seven dollars and fifty
cents and paid for.
Newspapers and magazines all over
the country, and indeed in all countries,
spoke of Genins achievement. The
London Times devoted nearly two
columns to the Jenny Lind excitement
III L1lllC4 Gl1C duCllOl oulO VI IlChCUo
and "Genin, the halter" and said that
at the first concert Mr.. Genin ought
himself to occupy the prize seat, and
have huge hat spread over it that the
purchaser might be recognized by the
audience. OF course all these things
brought grist to my mill by helping to
increase the excitement over what was
undoubtedly the greatest musical tri-
umph of any age Or country.
Some twenty years after this event,
my English friend, George Augustus
Sala, visited New York as correspondent
of the London Duly Telegraph. I called
on him at the Brevoort House. 1t was
winter, and 1 took him in my sleigh for
n drive through Central Park. On my
way l called at the house of Mr.. Genin
in Fourteenth street, aud invited him
to join us. AS we rode through the
park, all joining in pleasant converse
ton, Mr.. Sala said:
"By the way, Mr.. Barnum, what b.
came of that man Geenin, the halter,
who bought the first Jenny Lind ticket
at auction2"
1t is needless to say that Mr.. Sala's
two companions were oonvulsed with
laughter as 1 pointed to Mr.. Genin, and
replied;
"This is the man."
Mr.. Sala of course expressed his as
constituent at the remarkable coinci-
denoe, while improved the occasion"
by saying:
"Friend Genin, this should give you
an idea if the immense value of that
ticket purchase, when prominent edi-
tor of a leading London newspaper re-
members you as its purchaser, simply
missing the usual pronunciation of your